Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Devolution)

There has been considerable progress on the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act since the last report to the Executive in January 2016 as the Act has now been passed and came into force on 28 March 2016. This report provides an update to the implementation of the Act and requests the Executive to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consent to the terms of all Orders required to implement the current devolution deals.

The Executive is invited to

·         note that the Cities and Local Government Act is now in place and note the next steps required for implementation of the Greater Manchester devolution deals.

·         delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consent to the terms of all Orders required to implement the current devolution deals

Officer contact: Celia Tierney, 0161 474 3230, celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council (Policy, Finance & Reform) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Executive to consider an update on progress with implementation of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act since it came into force on 28 March 2016, including the need for Local Authorities in Greater Manchester to consent to a series of Orders to give effect to the Act.

The Leader of the Council reiterated concerns he had expressed at the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee about the proposals for ‘Phase 2’ which included the future of the Fire & Rescue Authority and the Waste Disposal Authority.

The Leader further encouraged all councillors and the public to respond to the current consultation being undertaken by the GMCA.

RESOLVED – That in relation to Greater Manchester devolution:-

·         the commencement of the Cities and Local Government Act and the next steps required for implementation of the Greater Manchester devolution deals be noted, and

·         the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, and following appropriate consultation with Group Leaders, be authorised to consent to the terms of all Orders required to implement the current devolution deals.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive.

The changes required to implement the devolution agreements are being dealt with in two phases:

Phase 1 will deal with most issues other than those relating to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRA).  Order(s) will need to be laid by July 2016 and implemented by November 2016.

Phase 2 will address issues relating to Fire and Rescue services.  This will enable Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) members to give further consideration to the requirements arising from the transfer of GMFRA responsibilities to the elected Mayor.  As part of Phase 2 GMCA members will also consider whether they wish to pursue the transfer of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA and will review Overview and Scrutiny arrangements in relation to GMCA and mayoral functions.  Order(s) will need to be laid by September 2016 and implemented by February 2017.  All issues to be dealt with in Phase 2 will need to be resolved by June 2016 to enable sufficient time for the drafting of detailed proposals.

The ten Greater Manchester Authorities need to consent to the draft Orders for Phase 1 and Phase 2. At the present time, the GMCA does not have a draft of the Orders and delegated authority is therefore requested to enable consent to be provided by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to the content of the Orders before they are laid in Parliament.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the following recommendations:

·         To note that the Cities and Local Government Act is now in place and note the next steps required for implementation of the Greater Manchester devolution deals.

·         To delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consent to the terms of all Orders required to implement the current devolution deals.

Officer Contact: Celia Tierney on Tel: 474 3230 or email: celia.tierney@stockport.gov.uk

The Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out changes required to implement the devolution agreements which were being dealt with in two phases:

Phase 1 would deal with most issues other than those relating to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRA).  Order(s) would need to be laid before Parliament by July 2016 and implemented by November 2016.

Phase 2 would address issues relating to Fire and Rescue services.  This would enable Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) members to give further consideration to the requirements arising from the transfer of GMFRA responsibilities to the elected Mayor.  As part of Phase 2 GMCA members would also consider whether they wished to pursue the transfer of Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA and would review Overview and Scrutiny arrangements in relation to GMCA and mayoral functions.  Order(s) would need to be laid before Parliament by September 2016 and implemented by February 2017.  All issues to be dealt with in Phase 2 would need to be resolved by June 2016 to enable sufficient time for the drafting of detailed proposals.

The ten Greater Manchester Authorities needed to consent to the draft Orders for Phase 1 and Phase 2. At the present time, the GMCA did not have a draft of the Orders and delegated authority was therefore requested to enable consent to be provided by the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to the content of the Orders before they are laid in Parliament.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Alex Ganotis) reported that he had expressed concerns to the Interim Mayor regarding the proposed governance arrangements following the transfer of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA/ elected Mayor. In particular he hoped that this Council would be able to continue to appoint sufficient members to reflect the political balance of the Council.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That this Scrutiny Committee would support the representations made by the Leader of the Council to ensure that in relation to the transfer of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority responsibilities to the GMCA/ elected Mayor this Council would continue be able to continue to appoint sufficient members to reflect the political balance of the Council.